Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. New Living Translation Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. English Standard Version Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Berean Standard Bible Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot. King James Bible Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. New King James Version Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. New American Standard Bible Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. NASB 1995 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. NASB 1977 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Legacy Standard Bible Here is what I have seen to be good, which is beautiful: to eat, to drink, and to see good in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. Amplified Bible Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward. Christian Standard Bible Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. Holman Christian Standard Bible Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. American Standard Version Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion. Contemporary English Version What is the best thing to do in the short life God has given us? I think we should enjoy eating, drinking, and working hard. This is what God intends for us to do. English Revised Version Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion. GOD'S WORD® Translation At last I have seen what is good and beautiful: It is to eat and drink and to enjoy the good in all our hard work under the sun during the brief lives God gives us. That is our lot [in life]. Good News Translation Here is what I have found out: the best thing we can do is eat and drink and enjoy what we have worked for during the short life that God has given us; this is our fate. International Standard Version Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a person's work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment. Majority Standard Bible Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot. NET Bible I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward. New Heart English Bible Look, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. Webster's Bible Translation Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. World English Bible Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBehold, that which I have seen: [It is] good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one’s labor that he labors at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God has given to him, for it [is] his portion. Young's Literal Translation Lo, that which I have seen: It is good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it is his portion. Smith's Literal Translation Behold, what I saw: good, which is beautiful to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labor that he will labor under the sun the number of the days of his life, which God gave to him; for this his portion. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThis therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and this is his portion. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Here is what I see as good: It is appropriate to eat and drink and prosper from all the toil one toils at under the sun during the limited days of life God gives us; for this is our lot. New Revised Standard Version This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThis is what I, the Preacher, have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all his labor for which he toils under the sun all the days of his life, which the LORD has given him; for this is his portion. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated This thing I, the Preacher, have seen: it is good and beautiful to eat and to drink and to see good in all his labor that he labored under the sun, the numbers of the days of his life, the days LORD JEHOVAH gives to him, for that is his portion OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Behold that which I have seen: it is good, yea, it is comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy pleasure for all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him; for this is his portion. Brenton Septuagint Translation Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Wealth…17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger. 18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him— for this is his lot. 19Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.… Cross References 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. Psalm 128:2 For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours. Proverbs 15:16-17 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. / Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God. / For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live, / and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works: / Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head. / Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun. 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. / But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5 For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Genesis 1:29-31 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. / And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. / And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Deuteronomy 8:10 When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you. Psalm 104:14-15 He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: / wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart. Treasury of Scripture Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion. it is good and comely Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12,13,22 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life… Ecclesiastes 8:15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. the days Ecclesiastes 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Ecclesiastes 3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? Jeremiah 52:34 And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life. Jump to Previous Drink Eat Enjoy Few Fitting Good Labor Labour One's Oneself Pleasure Portion Proper Sun Toils WhereinJump to Next Drink Eat Enjoy Few Fitting Good Labor Labour One's Oneself Pleasure Portion Proper Sun Toils WhereinEcclesiastes 5 1. vanities in divine service8. in murmuring against oppression 9. and in riches 18. Joy in riches is the gift of God. Here is what I have seen The phrase suggests a personal observation by the author, traditionally believed to be Solomon. The Hebrew root for "seen" is "ra'ah," which implies not just physical sight but also understanding and discernment. This indicates that the wisdom shared is not theoretical but derived from real-life experiences and reflections. to be good and fitting to eat and drink and find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life God has given him for this is his lot Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Hereהִנֵּ֞ה (hin·nêh) Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! is what אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that I אָ֗נִי (’ā·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I have seen רָאִ֣יתִי (rā·’î·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7200: To see to be good ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good and fitting: יָפֶ֣ה (yā·p̄eh) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3303: Fair, beautiful to eat לֶֽאֶכוֹל־ (le·’e·ḵō·wl-) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 398: To eat and drink, וְ֠לִשְׁתּוֹת (wə·liš·tō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 8354: To imbibe and to find וְלִרְא֨וֹת (wə·lir·’ō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7200: To see satisfaction טוֹבָ֜ה (ṭō·w·ḇāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good in all בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the labor עֲמָל֣וֹ ׀ (‘ă·mā·lōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5999: Toil, wearing effort, worry, wheth, of body, mind one does שֶׁיַּעֲמֹ֣ל (še·ya·‘ă·mōl) Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5998: To toil, work severely and with irksomeness under תַּֽחַת־ (ta·ḥaṯ-) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of the sun הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ (haš·še·meš) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement during the few מִסְפַּ֧ר (mis·par) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4557: A number, definite, indefinite, narration days יְמֵי־ (yə·mê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 3117: A day of life חַיָּ֛יו (ḥay·yāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life that אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that God הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative has given him— נָֽתַן־ (nā·ṯan-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set for כִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction this ה֥וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are is his lot. חֶלְקֽוֹ׃ (ḥel·qōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 2506: Portion, tract, territory Links Ecclesiastes 5:18 NIVEcclesiastes 5:18 NLT Ecclesiastes 5:18 ESV Ecclesiastes 5:18 NASB Ecclesiastes 5:18 KJV Ecclesiastes 5:18 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 5:18 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 5:18 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 5:18 French Bible Ecclesiastes 5:18 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 5:18 Behold that which I have seen (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
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